Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-01-13

reply. What would be her fate shoulC
he succeed in getting into the mill
she dared not think. All her cour
age, all her caution, all her wit, mus
be at her command now.
"I'll burn the MILL" he cried
Perhaps that'll bring you to rea.
SON.
But this proposition was greeted by
Billings with such a yell Of consterna'
tiou that Dolly had little fear of it,
being put into execution. But even
if. maddened BY defeat and enraged
by Billings refusal to trust him with
the money, the scoundrel had actually
carried out his cruel suggestion. the
lsieat hearted gyl would have mat hsu
fate bravely, defending her father
property with her life, rather than
permit it to fall into the hands ol
these villains. She saw that her own
death was certain If the assailani
gained admission, and she knew that
her father would be robbed. 1t was
to risk all against nothing. and she
consequently held fast to her resolve
to stay as she was while life remained
or until assistance should reach her.
The building offered no openings
to the baffled rutfisn except the single
oak door, which was beyond his pow
er to force. Yes, there was one, and
that was suggested by his confederate
at the attic window.
"The water-gate the water gate r
cried Billings. You can get in
through the wheel
Dolly heard the words, and her
heart sank. 1t was true. BY climb
ing down into the sluice, and under
the shaft of the great wheel, the man
could enter the mill through the ma
chinery. With yell Of delight, the
villain proceeded to adopt the sug-
gestion, and, with fast-beating heart,
the girl watched him until he had
disappeared in the sluice.
1t was then that horrible thought
occurred to her, but in it seemed to
lay her only chance for life. She ran
into the grist-room, and seized the
lever which controlled the water-gate.
AT ordinary times her strength would
have been insufficient to raise it, but
now her imminent peril gave her the
sinews of giant. Slowly the heavy
bar was raised. She heard the rush
of water as the gate swung open. The
great water-wheel began to turn slow
ly; the cogs and gearing to groan +;
the huge burrs to revolve. In a mo-
ment the mill was in full opera
tion.
The poor wretch outside had sue
ceeded in gaining the wheel before it
began to move, and now clung to one
of the arms, thoroughly and desper-
ately frightened. Thrown head down
ward at every revolution, and nearly
drowned by the water which poured
over him, he screamed, and begged to
be released from his rotary prison.
The wheel went round and round,
and with it went the unfortunate
Cashel, but Dolly did not wait to lis
ten to the oaths and imprecations with
which he filled the air. With all
speed she tore open the door, and ran
toward the village. As she passed
around the curve in the road her eyes
fell upon two men walking toward
her. With bounding heart she recog-
nized them as Wareham and her faith
er. To tell her exciting story was the
work of a moment, and then the
strength which had sustained her
through all, suddenly left her, and
she fell fainting almost before they
could catch her in their arms.
The half-drowned Cashel was re-
leased from his uncomfortable position
and the two robbers were delivered
into the hands of the authorities.
Wsreham had found nothing the mat
ter with his horse, the errand on
which he had been sent being a cum
ming device of Billings to get him
away from the vicinity. Suspecting
something wrong, he had returned to
the mill as soon as possible, bringing
the miller back with him. AS for
Dolly, she became the heroine of the
region for miles around. Her cours-
geous exploit passed into local history
and, though the events here chropi-
cled occurred many years ago, and
Dolly long since became Mrs. Richard
Wareham, she is best remembered
among her old neighbors As Dolly
Morse, the Maid of the Mill"
pH- Do not throw away your hard
earned cash for every new cough
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